Massage instrument.



No. 742,287 v I PATENTED 00127, 1903.

L. CASPER. MASSAGE INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, i901.

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L'. CASPER. MASSAGE INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1901.

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M!!!)lllllliliilili win/asses UNITED STATES-l Patented October 27, 1903.

PATE T OFFICE.

LOUIS CASPER, OF CHICAG ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO I-IYGEIA VIRRATORYCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MASSAG E lNSiTRUM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,287, dated October2'7, 1903. Application filed June 4,1901. I SerialNo. 63,051. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS cago, Illinois, have invented certain new andments, of which the tion.

The present inventi instrument in which there is ducing a tapping ormeans for cushioning the blows from said tapping device, so that theblows do not fall directly on the body of a patient, but are inn relatesto a massage a device for protercepted by a medium which is furtherutilized to transmit the blows to one or more points on the body. Themeans which I employ are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andthe details and novel features of the invention will hereinafter befully de gans of the abdominal region.

scribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a belt embodyingfeatures of my in- "vention.. Fig. 2 is a top or edge view of theenlarged horizontal andcentral section of the belt and of a caseconbelt. Fig. 3 is an taining the tapping device. Fig. 4 is a view of aportion of the belt, showing one of the kneading or vibrating I partsfor producing a action on the skin or tissues of the body.l Fig. 5 is across-section of same, taken on line 6 is a sectional elevation of asmall hand instrument in which my in- Vention is embodied for thepurpose of operating on a single portion of the body at one I 5 5 ofFig. 4. Fig.

time. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an instrument, showing amodification.

sectional view of a hand instrument for operating on several points atonce within a Fig. 9 is a face view of the op-.

small area. erating cushion or plate shown in Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is asectional view of a pendent or supplementary with vibratory parts.

Heretofore in appliances having mechanical means for producing a massageor vibratory action on the human body the striking or tapping deviceshave usually acted in each case by the hammer or tapper strikingdirectly on the surface of the skin.

In carrying out my invention I employ means for cushioning the hammer,the cushion being placed CASPER, of Chi? I kneading effect and Fig. 8 isa l front of the tube is a slot 0, having a diaphragm a belt having loopprovidedi between the hammer and the part or parts to be operated on.This has the efiect of makinga softened blow orkneading-like action onthe skin and body tissues much similar to that produced by the tip ofThe cushion I employ can be of various shapes or constructions,according to the use desired. I have illustrated in the drawings myinvention as applicable for A massage purposes to various parts of thebody, a particular form of the invention being in having the cushion inthe form of a belt or tube, which enables a vibratory action to beimparted to several parts of the body simultaneously, and, if desired,an electrical action may also be imparted at the same time, the twoactions being beneficial in the treatment of all diseases afiecting theor- The following is a description of the massage instrument as made inthe form of a belt, Figs. 1 to 5 being more particularly referred to:

A refers as a whole to a cushion which is preferably hollow or fluidwhich acts as a medium communicating with vibratory parts cushion. Asshown in the drawings, the cushion when shaped for a belt is made of atube a, of rubber or other suitable material, and is provided at itsends with a buckle a and a flap 00 to fasten the belt around the body.

I) designates slots arranged around inside of the belt and covered withthin diaphragms of rubber, each of which is secured to the tube a. by acircular reinforcement b At the or vibratory part 12 which may have acentral knot or projection 11 to receive the impacts from the hammer ofthe tapping device. A valve 61 is employed for filling the tube with afluid, preferably water, as indicated at w.

E refers as a whole to a tapping device, which is preferably constructedas follows:

E is a case containing an electromagnet e and a vibratory armature e.Projecting from the armature is a-rod or arm 6 which extends outside ofthe case and has on its outer end a head or hammer a This is arranged sothat in action it will strike the vibratory part b on the extreme end oftube.

tubular for holding a e is a spring for keeping the armature out ofcontact with pole-pieces of the magnets, (one only being shown indrawings.)

Below the armature e is a plate 6 having a contact-piece 6 A smalltongue 6 on the armature normally makes contact with the piece 6 Tires xcc connect the coils of the magnets e and the plate e with a battery Y.e is a push-button for closing circuit connections.

L L are electrodes attached to movable loops on the belt a, and z a areconnections or wires to a suitable source of electricity. It is notabsolutely necessary that electrical action should be supplied inconnection with the massage action of the instrument; but I preferablycombine them, as the two actions in an instrument have advantages inmany instances.

The operation of the instrumentjust described is as follows: The belthaving been buckled around the waist and the circuit operating thetapping device closed, the hammer will strike the exterior vibratorypart or belt. This imparts an impulse to the fluid in the tube whichcommunicates with the several vibratory parts or diaphragms next to thebody of the patient, causing the said parts to vibrate and impart akneading action to the skin and tissues beneath same. By employingelectromagnetic mechanism to operate the tapping or striking devicevibrations or movements of a high rate of speed may be readily obtainedand are beneficial in the therapeutic applications of the instrument.

It will be observed that the instrument may be modified withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. In Fig. 6 I have shown asmall hand instrument in which the cushion consists of a ball a In Fig.7 the cushion consists of a pencil a of soft rubber, which may be usedfor massaging the aural passages. In Fig. 8 the cushion is a hollow disk(L30, having protuberances (r which act on the skin, and in Fig. 10 Ihave shown a belt havinga supplementary loop or tube a, having vibratoryparts on same.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An instrument of class described, having a striking or tapping deviceand a cushion which receives the blows from the hammer of the tappingdevice and is adapted to impart same to the human body, as set forth.

2. An instrument of class described, having a striking or tapping deviceand a cushion which is engaged by the hammer of the tapping device, thesaid cushion being provided with vibratory parts adapted to be placedagainst the human body, as set forth.

3. An instrument of class described, having a striking or tapping deviceand a cushion filled with a fluid medium, the said cushion being engagedby the hammer of the tapping device and adapted to impart the blows fromsame in the manner set forth.

4.. An instrument of class described having a tapping device a hammer ofwhich engages an exterior part of a tubular cushion, the said cushionbeing provided with vibratory parts adapted to be placed against the human body, as set forth.

5. In an instrument of class described, a cushion adapted to be placedagainst the human body and a vibratory hammer which strikes an exteriorpart of the cushion, as set forth.

6. A massage instrument having a cushion, a vibratory hammer whichstrikes an exte rior part of same and electromagnetic mechanism foractuating the hammer, as set forth.

7. The combination of a tapping device having an electromagnet, avibratory armature, a rod from same provided with a head or hammer, anda cushion having an exterior part which receives blows from said hammer,the cushion being adapted to impart the blows in the manner set forth. 7

8. A massage instrument comprising a tubular belt, slots provided withdiaphragms adapted to be placed against the hu man body, a vibratorypart on exterior of the belt and a striking or tapping device, assetforth.

9. A massage instrument having a tubular belt adapted to be placedagainst the human body and a tapping device which engages an exteriorpart of the belt, as set forth.

10. In a massage instrument the combination ofa cushion comprising afluid medium, adapted to be placed against the body, and means forvibrating said medium, substantially as set forth.

11. In a massage instrument the combination of a cushion comprising anelastic casing and a liquid medium therein, and means for vibrating saidmedium, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my'hand this 31st day of May,1901.

LOUIS CASPER.

In presence of W. W. MAIN, WM. ROCHE.

